The tragedy of Punch the monkey: why do mother animals abandon their offspring?

A baby Japanese macaque named Punch has drawn global attention after videos showed him being bullied by other monkeys and rejected by his mother. Born last July at Ichikawa zoo, he was given a stuffed orangutan by zookeepers after the abandonment and has been filmed clutching it while older macaques push and chase him.

Alison Behie, a primatology expert, said abandonment is unusual but can follow factors such as age, health and inexperience. She noted Punch’s mother was a first-time parent and that zookeepers suggested he was born during a heatwave, a stressful environment in which a mother may prioritise her own survival and future reproduction.

Zookeepers tried rolled towels of different thicknesses before introducing the toy so Punch would have something to grip. Keeper Kosuke Shikano explained babies cling to their mother’s body to build muscle and a sense of security, and the toy might help Punch integrate back into the troop.

Japan, Ichikawa

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